In this short guide, we’ll show you how to duplicate apps on your Home Screen. We’ll also explain why Apple chose to allow this functionality and how to make the best use of it.
Duplicated App Icons Work Better With Focus Modes
Apple’s Focus feature—which acts as a successor to Do Not Disturb mode—allows you to show and hide different Home Screens according to what activity you’re trying to focus on at any one time.
For example, if you enable the Work focus mode, your iPhone or iPad can show you only the Home Screen pages that have your work apps on them. Similarly, it can hide these stress-inducing Home Screen pages when you disable the Work focus.
But what if there’s an app you use in and out of work? If you hide your work-related Home Screen when you aren’t working, it’ll hide that app in the process.
Well, that’s why Apple allowed users to create duplicate app icons. So now you can show the same apps across multiple Home Screens to they’re always available to you even if you show or hide certain screens depending on your Focus mode.
How to Duplicate App Icons on an iPhone or iPad
Creating a duplicate copy of an app icon is easy. Find the app in the App Library, then drag a new copy of it onto your Home Screen:
Swipe to the App Library at the right edge of all your Home Screens. Look through the various folders or use the Search bar to find the app you want to duplicate. Tap and hold on the app, then drag it to the left edge of the screen and drop it onto a Home Screen. Repeat this process as many times as you like to create as many duplicates as you need.
Customize Your Home Screen to Fit Your Needs
There are tons of ways to customize your iPhone or iPad Home Screen these days. Make sure you explore all the options available to you to find the setup that works best for your personal needs.
